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The scandal around the video that has gone viral and in which French footballer Kurt Zouma appears kicking his cat has taken on new dimensions. The athlete was criticized by the mayor of London, booed by his own followers; his equipment supplier Adidas ended his contract with him and finally his club, West Ham, sanctioned him.
The controversy surrounding the video showing the French soccer player Kurt Zouma beating his cat gained strength this Wednesday, February 9, in England. More than 200,000 people demanded legal action.
His club, West Ham, imposed the “highest possible” fine on him on Wednesday. Such sanction usually corresponds to the withdrawal of two weeks of salary to the footballer, or about 300,000 euros in his case.
For its part, the clothing and sports equipment manufacturer Adidas decided to break the contract it had with the Lyon defender. “We have closed our investigation and can confirm that Kurt Zouma is no longer an athlete under contract with Adidas,” the brand said in an email sent to the AFP news agency.
Britons were outraged to see the 27-year-old kick his cat, throw a shoe at it and slap it while taking refuge in the arms of a child, in a video posted on social media this week.
“In the UK we have laws against animal cruelty, laws that should apply to everyone, rich or poor, famous or not! We call on the Metropolitan Police and the RSPCA (Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) to carry out an urgent investigation and prosecution of the perpetrators of this heinous act”, says a petition that exceeded 220,000 signatures.
Shortly after the video was released, Zouma and his club apologized, but the player’s stay for a championship match against Watford further reignited the controversy.
Insurance company Vitality has suspended its partnership with West Ham, saying they are “extremely disappointed in the club’s lack of judgement”. In addition, Experience Kissimmee, a resort in Florida, called Zouma’s presence on the field “heartbreaking” and announced that he would review his financial ties with the club.
“This is how your cat feels”
Kurt Zouma was booed throughout the match against Watford by fans, including his team, and when he complained of pain following an opponent’s foul, some even shouted “that’s what your cat feels like”.
Hammers manager David Moyes defended his decision saying he needed his best players as the London club were struggling to qualify for the Champions League.
But the scandal reached the ears of London Mayor Sadiq Khan, who called the former Chelsea player’s actions “despicable” and said he was “disappointed” with the manager and management.
Later, the club announced the economic sanction imposed on Zouma. “The player immediately accepted it and asked that the money from the fine be donated to an animal rights organization,” the club announced.
Anyone who mistreats an animal in a manner that is also flagrant and intolerable can raise the consequences of their acts. Nous demandons donc à Didier Deschamps de désélectionner Kurt Zouma de l’équipe de France.https://t.co/0eempxCNTj
— PETA France (@PETA_France) February 9, 2022
In France, the outrage was also strong. The Brigitte Bardot Foundations, 30 Million Friends and SPA filed a complaint. “Although the offense is in England, we believe we have a prejudice, because it is visible in France,” said Jacques-Charles Fombonne, president of the SPA.
On the other hand, in a letter addressed to the French Football Federation, the president of the SPA asked for “a quick and exemplary sanction” at the sporting level and said that I hope Zouma “never appears again in the ranks of the French team.”
In a statement, Noël Le Graët, president of the French Football Federation (FFF), assured that the player’s behavior was “stupid and petty”, but highlighted the apologies of a “boy known for being respectful” without mentioning any measure in his against.
Kurt Zouma has 11 caps for the French soccer team and was part of the last line-up in November 2021. He was also on the list of players selected for the European Championship, but did not play a single game.
*Article translated from its original in French